@article{ref1,
title="Trends in characteristics of individuals who use methamphetamine in the United States, 2015-2018",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2020",
author="Palamar, Joseph J. and Han, Benjamin H. and Keyes, Katherine M.",
volume="213",
number="",
pages="e108089-e108089",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Prevalence of self-reported methamphetamine use has remained relatively stable over the past decade; however, deaths and seizures involving methamphetamine have been increasing. Research is needed to determine if select subgroups in the US are at increased risk for use.   METHODS: We examined data from individuals ages ≥12 from the 2015-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 226,632), an annual nationally representative cross-sectional survey of non-institutionalized individuals in the US. Log-linear trends in past-year methamphetamine use were examined, stratified by demographic and drug use characteristics.   RESULTS: Methamphetamine use increased in the US from 2015 to 2018, including among those reporting past-year use of ecstasy/MDMA (6.1 % to 10.8 % [p =.018], a 78.2 % increase), cocaine (8.4 % to 11.8 % [p =.013], a 40.1 % increase), and among those reporting past-year prescription opioid misuse (5.4 % to 8.0 % [p =.019], a 49.2 % increase). Increases were particularly pronounced among those reporting past-year use of heroin (22.5 % to 37.4 % [p =.032], a 66.2 % increase) and LSD (5.1 %-= to 10.3 % [p =.002], a 100.4 % increase). Small increases were also detected among heterosexuals (0.6 % to 0.7 % [p =.044], a 16.2 % increase), those with a high school diploma or less (1.0 % to 1.2 % [p =.020], a 22.0 % increase), and among those receiving government assistance (1.4 % to 1.8 % [p =.046], a 26.2 % increase).   CONCLUSIONS: Methamphetamine use is increasing among people who use other drugs with sharp increases among people who use heroin or LSD in particular, and this could have serious public health consequences. <br><br>RESULTS may signal that methamphetamine use may continue to increase in the general population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108089",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108089"
}